The accident occurred at 4.25pm on Wednesday when the driver of the single cab Toyota utility turned left from Durham Street into George Street.

The ute collided with a 73-year-old Bathurst man who was walking across the pedestrian crossing, from the Dan Murphy’s side towards Bob Jane T-Marts.

The pedestrian was treated by paramedics at the scene and then transported by air ambulance to Westmead Hospital in Sydney with serious facial injuries and a fractured pelvis and femur.

Chifley Local Area Command Duty Officer Inspector David Abercrombie said the pedestrian was in a serious condition when he left Bathurst in the NSW Ambulance helicopter.

He said the driver of the ute initially stopped after the accident, however, he left the scene before providing a statement to police.

“The driver did stop and render assistance to the pedestrian and remained there for a while and then left when the ambulance arrived,” he said. “He should have waited until the police arrived and took a statement.”

Inspector Abercrombie said the utility was white with a black bull bar and it had a front quarter panel that was a matt grey colour, similar to a paint primer.

“It was a male driver aged 65 to 70 years old, [he] had scruffy grey hair, was 172 centimetres tall, thin build and Caucasian,” he said.

Police say the motorist was wearing a flannelette shirt and had dark coloured pants.

Inspector Abercrombie said technically it was not a hit and run accident, however, the motorist did leave the scene without exchanging his details with police which he was obliged to do.

“It’s important for us to determine who’s at fault,” he said.

Police officers visited a number of businesses on Thursday to determine if any CCTV footage could be obtained of the ute’s movements after the accident.

“We need to establish who the driver was so we can establish what happened,” Inspector Abercrombie said.

The driver of the vehicle, or any witnesses to the accident, are urged to contact Bathurst Police on 6332 8699 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

Late Thursday a Westmead Hospital spokeswoman said the injured man remained in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

All roads remained open during the incident, with paramedics treating the injured pedestrian on the footpath.